Sunday, 17 May 2015

Nikhil Banerjee (1931-1986) at WDR, Cologne, Germany - Broadcasts recorded 1971, 1975 and 1984 - CD 5


Finally we received a complete version of the 5th CD of this set of 5 CDs and posted it. It contains commentaries on Indian music given by Nikhil Banerjee after his studio recording of Raga Desh (see CD 3) (studio recording by WDR on 10.11.1984. Moderator: Jan Reichow).
See here the whole set including the 5th CD.

Saturday, 16 May 2015

Gharanon Ki Gaiki - Vol. 20 - Mohammad Afzal Khan & Mohammad Hafiz Khan - Talwandi Gharana


The Talwandi Gharana is the only Dhrupad Gharana in Pakistan, very different from the better known Indian Dhrupad traditions. These two singers passed away already years ago and are succeeded by their sons Labrez Afzal Khan and Ali Hafeez Khan.


For more information see:

Monday, 11 May 2015

Gharanon Ki Gaiki - Vol. 19 - Asad Ali Khan - Agra Gharana



Ustad Asad Ali Khan was an outstanding disciple of the great Ustad Fayyaz Khan. He was already well-known in India in the 1940s, before he went to Pakistan after partition. There unfortunately - it seems - he never became very well known, judging from the few recordings which exist. I guess these musicians were mainly known for their - often privately organized - concerts (Mehfils).

Raju Asokan, the great collector, has shared recently two wonderful long performances by him on his YouTube channel:

Here some memories by a singer, Moni Babu, who learned, among other greats of the Agra Gharana, also from Ustad Asad Ali Khan: 
"Ustadji’s (Tassadaq Hussain Khan's) nephew Asad Ali was a wonderful singer. He moved to Karachi after partition. Till then we thought that in Ustad’s absence Asad was the one who would bear the mantle. Once in a programme from Delhi Radio he gave a recital of Sayaji Kanada. It was an unbelievable performance that haunted me for many days. When Asad returned to Agra, I pleaded with him to show me the nuances of the raga. Ustadji was not at home when we started but suddenly returned from somewhere. Asad received the scolding of his life and literally fell at his feet. I was speechless at the developments and vanished from the scene. Later Ustadji called me the same day and taught me till I was able to sing it myself. The fact was , none except him was allowed to teach. I was clearly told not to depend on anybody else and ask him whatever I wanted to know. I had seen similar things to happen to others also.
He affectionately called me Maharaj and treated me like one. On Sundays his own tonga would pick me up and drop me back. Money was never an issue. Whenever and whatever I could afford to give was fine. Agra was witness to the most terrible riots during partition time. Ustadji’s house was at the end of a lane  through a red-light area , lined on both sides with beef-shops on the ground floor  . No Hindu would even think of going there those days, particularly during the nights. I had never told anything to him but was naturally a bit concerned because it was quite late in the night by the time I returned from Ustadji’s house. One day Ustadji called a man named Abdul and told him “Abdul, he is my son. Nothing should happen to him”. From that day onwards, two persons would escort me every day till I reached the safe Hindu locality. So much for discrimination”.
Read here the complete story: 

Some information on the Agra Gharana:

Wednesday, 6 May 2015

Gharanon Ki Gaiki - Vol. 18 - Hameed Ali Khan & Fateh Ali Khan - Gwalior Gharana



See our earlier post of a cassette by the two brothers here.

The two brothers were and still are well-known Khayal singers in Pakistan. Not to be confused with the famous Patiala Gharana singers of the same names. It seems that they stopped at one point to sing together. See below the links to their facebook sides. 

On the artists see:

Friday, 1 May 2015

Gharanon Ki Gaiki - Vol. 17 - Umrao Bundoo Khan - Delhi Gharana


Ustad Umrao Bundoo Khan was the son of the great Ustad Bundoo (Bundu) Khan, one of the greatest Sarangi masters of the 20th century. See our posts here. Umrao Bundoo Khan was both a singer and a Sarangi player.